10.24.2010 05:43 AM

Campaigns matter

Today’s Sun column: the lessons of Calgary and Toronto.

29 Comments

  1. James Curran says:

    Great Campaign by Ford….. unless of course you’re gay or an immigrant. His new spot on Tamil radio:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-4Q-gdDwCo

    Rough Translation:

    1st Person: Mani Anna, Who you voting for in the Mayoral Election?

    2nd Person: [Laughs] What kind of question is this? I am Tamil. We have a religion and culture. Take Rob Ford for an example, His wife is a women. Thats not only it, he said will reduce Land transfer taxes and other taxes.

    1st Person: What about Immigration?

    2nd Person: [Laughs] Thats a federal government issue. So, the white people can get our vote.

    1st Person: I am also going to vote for Rob Ford.

    DISCLAIMER: This is a paid Advertisement

    Rob Ford on the Tamil protest that shut down the Gardiner a few years ago.

    “Enough is enough. If I was mayor, they would have been immediately removed from the Gardiner,” he said, noting the parents who took their children on the Gardiner yesterday should be punished and have Children’s Aid investigate. “We can’t have this bleeding heart approach anymore because people’s and kids’ lives are in danger.” “We are not going to tolerate any more of this hoodlumism, as I call it.”

  2. Brammer says:

    “the punditocracy ? opining from their Deepest Annex wine cellars, perhaps, as they peruse the Sunday New York Times…”

    LOL I love it!

    A mirror would give them one good reason why Ford is popular with the peeps…

  3. J. Coates says:

    Soooo who’s campaign did you say you work for? LOL

  4. Jan says:

    Thursday’s At Issue panel had a good discussion on Nenshi’s win. It’s on the CBC’s website.

  5. gray says:

    Wow what a bunch of mouth breathers in the Sun’s comment, you should have fun there.

    Enjoy.

  6. J. Coates says:

    I think the real problem with the Calgary and Toronto’s municipal elections: too many candidates are “dog whistles.”

    Dog Whistle being a term, coined by S/F writer and Libertarian L. Neil Smith, which refers to “someone who is so uptight, only dogs can hear them break wind.” 🙂

  7. An interesting column, Warren, but you leave too strong an impression that Ford will win in my view. I can’t help thinking that when George essentially has the TO Liberal machine pulling his vote, he might make up for being behind in some polls.

    BTW, I think if Ford does win the comparison with Calgary is really more about how split races lead to results that don’t necessarily reflect what the public wants. We need preferential balloting in ALL elections so that people can feel free to support their favourite while also having a say if that doesn’t work.

    Just imagine if Rocco could have stayed in the race without any risk of being labelled as the Ralph Nader of Toronto. Imagine if he could run and others could vote for him without any risk at all of a “wasted vote”.

    A further BTW, I’m starting to get the sense that Mayor Ford will actively blame Queen’s Park for all of Toronto’s problems. I’m not sure how that will help us in a year. Maybe in three years, but that’s too late.

  8. MississaugaPeter says:

    Was not in Calgary this time around, but I believe a lot of the surprising result is typical anti-status quo sentiment that is a trademark of Calgary and Alberta politics. From United Farmers of Alberta to Social Credit to Progressive Conservatives to Wild Rose Party at the provincial level, to the quick turn at the federal level from all seats PC to almost all seats Reform, to the municipal level where a complete upstart by the name of Klein – I think I saw only 3 of his black and white signs all campaign – came out of nowhere to beat the incumbent Alger and perennial candidate Petrasek (sp?). The young city of Calgary is known to turn it’s back very quickly on anyone/anything that takes it for granted or does not work for it’s interests.

  9. Sean says:

    …loosing is loosing is… LOOSING.

  10. Eric says:

    A great article Mr K. Disappointing but true. The mayor elect’s message is a mile wide, but an inch deep.

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